The mural honoring the memory of Jocelynn Rojo Carranza—the young Hispanic girl who died by suicide after being bullied for being an immigrant—will soon become a reality now that the artist behind the project has found the perfect wall to tell her story and that of other immigrant children.
Jocelynn, 11, was a sixth-grade student at Gainesville Intermediate School. She died on Feb. 8 at Medical City Dallas, days after a suicide attempt at home.
Rosalía Torres Weiner, the Mexican artist and founder of Red Calaca Studio, announced her intention to create the mural in late February and began the search for a visible wall.
“Thanks to my Instagram followers, someone reached out and told me Compare Foods had the perfect wall for the mural,” Rosalía told Enlace Latino NC.
The wall, about 45 feet long and 20 feet high, is located facing Nations Ford Road, on the side of the Compare Foods supermarket complex on Arrowood Road, a west Charlotte area with a large Hispanic community.
Other Artists Join the Project
Rosalía is now sketching the mural together with two other muralists from Charlotte: Eva Crawford and Matt Moore, whom she calls the best muralist in the Queen City.
“It’s a big wall, and that’s why I thought I’d need help. And look how wonderful the art community is—they want to support this project,” she said.
Jocelynn’s Mother Grateful for the Initiative
Rosalía also made a point of reaching out to Marbella Carranza, Jocelynn’s mother, to tell her about the project and ask for her permission. She was able to get in touch after connecting with several family members on Facebook.
“She was moved and thankful for the initiative, and she gave us her blessing to use her daughter’s image,” said the artist.
They Hope to Include Gabby
For Rosalía, painting this mural is a way to express her commitment to immigrant causes, injustices, and the struggles people face in the United States. She considers herself an “artivist.” Her current cause: school bullying.
During her interview with Enlace Latino NC, Rosalía learned about the recent death of another Latina girl who died by suicide after experiencing bullying. Gabriela “Gabby” Aparicio Ortega was a student at the Durham School of the Arts and took her own life in late February.
Rosalía hopes to include Gabby in the mural, which the artists plan to begin painting in June.
“I felt so much pain when I learned about these girls. They don’t deserve silence. That’s why I think this project doesn’t belong to me—it belongs to all of us,” she said.
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A Mural to Raise Awareness About Bullying of Immigrant Children
With this project, Rosalía hopes to go beyond the mural itself. She believes the tragic deaths of these young girls point to a much larger responsibility.
“We need to confront bullying and suicide, and talk about it with children and teachers, so we can help them unload the fear they carry in their backpacks. We need to prevent it and let them know we see them, we hear them, and we are with them,” she said.
She added that in the future, she hopes to offer workshops on bullying and mental health near the mural site.
“I hope it doesn’t stop with the mural. I hope it helps educate and inspire other artists in other cities. This is a project for everyone—I’m just one voice,” Rosalía concluded.
Fundraising Campaign
Although the mural will be created free of charge, the artists must cover the cost of materials and equipment. To support the effort, a fundraising campaign has been launched on the GoFundMe platform.
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